Presidential wannabe Rick Santorum was back on his theme of the corrupting influence of a college education this week, not only pointing to its influence but also how Obama wants people to be more han they need to be, or different. Last night in Troy, Michigan, for instance, he said, "Obama just wants to make you in his own image."

"President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob. There are good, decent men and women who work hard every day who aren't taught by some liberal college professor," Santorum said. "Obama just wants to remake you into his image."

I will be surprised if anyone can find me an instance where Obama said everyone should go to college vs. should be able to go to college. It's something Santorum has saidd before:

Now, it is true that Obama has called for Americans to attend more than high school. But I don't think his speech to Congress in February 2009 is in conflict with Santorum's views of America:

"[T]onight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option."

I somehow doubt that Obama sees himself as someone who went to vocational school or served as an apprentice. The careers one gets after vocational school are very much in line with Santorum's point that not everyone needs to go to college. Or graduate. But Santorum has a non-existent bone to pick with the Obama he wants voters to imagine, and sets up differences which simply aren't there. (And don't get me started on the religious baggage of "in his own image." That's an air horn, not a dog whistle.)

The other note Santorum sounded about going to college this week is that doing so takes still-forming kids away from their religion:

"I understand why Barack Obama wants to send every kid to college, because of their indoctrination mills, absolutely," he said. "The indoctrination that is going on at the university level is a harm to our country."

...

Santorum told Beck that "62 percent of kids who go into college with a faith commitment leave without it," but failed to say where he found that figure.

When Santorum was making these noises in January, Meteor Blades shared the results of a 2007 study which found the contrary: it's those who don't attend college who are more likely to fall away.

It's high time some journalist just looked Santorum straight in the eye and told him he was dissembling again.

(Yes, I also know about the Dutch thing.)

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(DISCLOSURE: I work for Abt SRBI. My company does polling. My opinions should not be construed as representing those of my employer.)